How to Use Portrait Lighting Mode on iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus

Using Portrait Lighting mode on iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus, you can perfectly manipulate light and capture awesome shots. Read on to get started with it!

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When Portrait mode launched on iPhone 7 Plus, it created a lot of buzz thanks to its ability to capture shots with bokeh effect. Apple has made this unique camera feature even more efficient by introducing Portrait Lighting mode. So, how do you use Portrait Lighting mode on iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus?

Before trying our hands on Portrait Lighting, let's first find out how it works. It basically analyzes the scene around your subject; thereby allowing you to fine-tune lighting. With the use of depth map, it adds different lighting options. By manipulating those lights, you can ideally highlight the subject and take awesome photos. You can take the photo using dramatic stage light or even studio light! Just in case, you wish to have a more natural look; you can use natural light as well.

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How to Use Portrait Mode on iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus

Note: Portrait Lighting is available only on iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus. You can't use it on your iPhone 7 Plus even though it has Portrait Mode. Currently, it's in beta and officially supports the shooting of only people. However, you can still take the photo of objects and animals but the depth of field effect may not work properly.

Alternately, you can just 3D Touch the Camera app and select “Take Portrait.”

Step #2. Next, you have five Portrait Lightings Modes to choose from. You can select them from the menu at the bottom of the viewfinder.

Natural Light: As far as functionality is concerned, it's quite similar to iPhone 7 Plus Portrait mode. It simply works by keeping the subject's face in focus by blurring the background.

Studio Light: It allows you to brighten up the subject in the picture by blurring the background for contrast. As a result, you will be able to see more detail of the subject.

Contour Light: In terms functionality, it's very similar to studio light. However, it darkens the light around the edges of the subject.

By casting shadows on your subject's face, this lighting mode displays the vivid difference between highlights and lowlights.

Stage Light: It completely focuses on subject's face. While the background is completely black, the subject looks pretty bright and clear. Hence, you get high-contrast photo.

Stage Light Mono: This lighting mode functions very similar to Stage Light by turning the background completely black and brightening up the subject. It uses monochrome filter to show subject only in black and white.

When you start using Portrait Mode, your iPhone will give you suggestions to help you capture better shots. For instance, it will say, “Move close/further away from subject,” “Place Subject within stage light” etc.

Now, perfectly align the shot you want to take within 2-8 feet of your subject. The face and body detection of the camera will quickly identify the subject.

Do as directed to capture better photos. When the distance and focus are proper, banners will turn yellow.

Note: Even if the banners don't turn yellow, you will be able to capture with the telephoto lens in Portrait mode. However, the shots won't have depth or lighting effects.

Select any of your favorite modes from the slider at the bottom of the camera display. Then, snap the shot by tapping on the shutter button.

One thing you need to know that you can select any of these modes after you have taken the picture.

As a result, if you have captured photos using one lightning setting, you can change it during editing.

How to Capture Photos of Animals and Other Objects Using Portrait Mode

Though Portrait Lighting currently doesn’t officially allow you to capture non-human objects, you can still use it to take photos of animals or anything. However, the artificial depth of field may not work properly.